Unsuspecting Hero (Batjokes)

Chapter 7

Joker awoke with a gasp, eyes blinking open at the pressure on top of his chest. He quickly looked down, noticing Damien stirring slightly in his sleep. The older man blinked slowly, mind trying to remember where he was. He wasn't with Harvey right now, he was with Bat's and his family, and he had fallen asleep with the youngest baby bat.

"Hey" A voice said from beside him, and Joker quickly looked to his left. Bruce sat there, expression unreadable and the clown instantly assumed the worst. "He didn't know where you guys were, and I thought I shouldn't leave him alone, so-" "No, no, don't worry. I'm not mad. Quite the opposite, actually" Batman spoke, and Joker let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Oh" 

Joker sat himself up, being careful of little Damien as he gently laid him along his lap, almost like a small baby. "I'm guessing you saw?" He asked, pointing towards one of the camera's in the room using the top of his head. Bruce nodded softly. "We all did. I needed to prove to my family that you weren't a threat right now" he chose his wording carefully, but Joker didn't seem to care. 

"I'm guessing the little birdies weren't happy with this whole arrangement?" Joker asked, but it wasn't a particular question. He knew that was coming eventually, they both did. "I wanted to know if you wanted to join us for dinner tonight?" Bruce offered, and Joker looked conflicted. "Alfred is setting you up a guest bedroom as we speak, and the dinner won't be anything big. Just Alfred, Damien and Nightwing"

"...and you" "and me" Bruce confirmed, and they fell quiet as Joker contemplated the offer. "What's the catch?" Batman sighed, looking at Joker with as much sincerity as he could manage. He wasn't sure how the other would react, and that made him slightly on guard. "I want to rehabilitate you" Those words made Joker's eyes turn cold, but still Bruce persisted. "You will live here with me. You can decorate your room how you see fit, we can bring stuff back from your old safehouses, and I will rehabilitate you. You will have weekly therapy sessions from someone I deem qualified to handle you, you will take all meds prescribed, and you will actively try and make yourself get better. That is the condition"

"Batsy" Joker laughed, malice under his tone as he glared at the other man. "Oh, how you make me laugh" The clown taunted, moving Damien out of his lap and onto the couch in fear he would hurt him in his mania. Joker stood, looming over the Bat mockingly. "and what if I was to say no?" 

Bruce didn't let himself be intimidated. "You will stay in here. I will co-operate with you in catching Two-Face, and the moment he is found, you go back to Arkham" Joker growled, turning so he didn't have to face this idiot he was talking to. "You have a lot of nerve, taking advantage of the torture I went through. You think just because I'm going through a hard time you can pounce on the opportunity to make me better?" Joker asked incredulously, laughing into the quietness of the air. "Dear Batsy, I may not be myself right now but I will always be The Joker, and I will never get better"

"That's not what you said!" A small voice piped up, and both men turned to the now fully awake child in the room. "Damien" Bruce quickly said, not wanting his son to get involved. The five year old didn't let his father dissuade him, standing and walking closer to the manic man in front of him. "You aren't Joker anymore. You're Jack again. You felt bad about all those people you hurt, that makes you better"

"That isn't what I said, kid" Joker huffed, turning away from the child who was walking closer. "No, but you sounded sad. Plus, Papa wants you to get better, and you like Papa. You can't make Papa sad, too"

Joker looked at Damien, then back at Bruce, then Damien again. "You sure are your daddy's kid, aren't you? You're like a mini detective" Damien giggled, nodding softly. "Papa says I'm smart for my age!"

Joker felt the anger slipping the longer he looked at the small child in front of him. "...I'll think about it" He settled on, looking in Bruce's direction. Bruce smiled, nodding as he stood up. "Dinner will be ready in an hour. If you want to join us, it's just down the hall and to the left. If you don't show up, then I'll take that as your answer"

Joker barely managed a nod as Bruce walked towards the door. "Come on, Damien. Say bye to Jack" Joker glared at Bruce at the mention of his real name, but looked away when he felt Damien hugging the bottom of his leg. "No! I wanna stay!"

"Go on, little guy, it's okay" Joker said, crouching down to meet the others height. "You'll see me soon" "You promise?" Damien begged, and Joker couldn't resist those puppy dog eyes he was being given. With a small laugh, he held out his pinky finger, watching as Damien interlocked them for a small shake. "Pinky promise. Now go with your Dad"

"Okay..." The small child sighed, waving softly as he walked to Bruce. "Bye, Jack!" "See ya, kid" Damien ran out, and Bruce turned to face Joker once again. "I hope to see you at dinner..." With that, he left, the door closing with a small thump behind him.

Joker glared at the floor, wishing it would give him some kind of sign on what to do.